Cops own 50% of kombis

The Zimbabwe Republic Police officers reportedly own 50% of commuter omnibuses servicing Harare routes, Parliament heard yesterday.

This was disclosed by the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators which appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport  and Infrastructural Development chaired by Epworth MP Amos Midzi.

GHACO chairman Cosmas Mbonjani said in as much as his association of 400 members had encountered problems where their drivers engaged in corrupt activities, there was too much graft by the police and Vehicle Inspection Department officials.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri has reportedly issued a directive for all law enforcement agents operating public service transport to cease their operations, the Southern Eye reported.

The order, according to police sources, applies to both registered commuter operators and those pirating as this compromises the force in discharging its duties.

In a message sent to all police stations last Friday, Chihuri reportedly warned those planning on engaging in the business to stop forthwith while those who were already operators had two months to divest from the business.

Police sources said this directive followed increasing complaints from public transport operators of a conflict of interest with the police operating in the public transport sector and enforcing traffic regulations.

Speaking at a ceremony to welcome three police officers from a peacekeeping mission to Liberia in December last year, Chihuri said there was a conflict of interest in the police owning or running commuter omnibus business.

"It has come to our attention that some (kombis) are owned by members of the police force, but then you cannot be a police officer and run a kombi business as well. It creates a conflict of interest," Chihuri was quoted saying.